Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has accused ex-System 1 racing director Michael Massi of disrespecting drivers, mishandling criticism and being chargeable for the game.
Mercedes is blaming Massey for costing Lewis Hamilton the championship eventually yr’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after he improperly applied the security automobile restart process on the finish of the race.
Massey’s choices constituted a one-lap race that noticed Max Verstappen overtake Lewis Hamilton in dramatic trend to assert his first title win.
Massey was faraway from his place as race director within the aftermath, and the function has been utterly reviewed by motor racing’s governing physique, the FIA, for the season.
The FIA’s report on the Abu Dhabi race criticized Masi’s determination, though he insisted the Australian acted in good religion all through.
Wolff in contrast how glad he was with Hamilton receiving constructive criticism and the way Massey appeared to disregard it, even when he got here from place, recalling a gathering he had with the previous race director previous to the controversial Abu Dhabi occasion.
“It is a lot enjoyable as a result of I had lunch with him on the Wednesday earlier than the race, and I mentioned to him ‘I actually wish to inform you, with out caring for you, that you should take the criticism and develop from there. Louis [Hamilton] He does it day-after-day, however you are a man who all the time appears to know higher. “
“It wasn’t about influencing him however in truth giving my sincere commentary that he should not masks outdoors opinion as mere mistake.
“You hear from the drivers and the way the drivers have been given instructions [by Masi] Among the males mentioned that the best way he handled a few of them was virtually disrespectful.
“He was resistant to any reactions and even right now he hasn’t correctly thought he made a mistake.
“It was the duty of the game as a result of everybody saved speaking about Abu Dhabi and the race director, and the race director shouldn’t be somebody folks discuss, however somebody who does the job and makes positive the race goes in line with the laws.”
F1 has two race administrators this yr, Nils Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who take turns rotating duties.
One of many findings of the FIA Abu Dhabi Grand Prix investigation was that Massey had so much to cope with, so the brand new race administrators Herbie Plush helped outright Massey’s deputy predecessor, Charlie Whiting, who died all of the sudden on the eve of the 2019 season.
